The Troutdale House by the Sandy River will have a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting May 1st from 6 pm to 9 pm. The Ribbon Cutting will take place at 6:30 pm. Owners Laura and Martin Burlus will be blessing their marriage by renewing their vows on this special occasion. They would like you to attend the celebration and join them for a light buffet and cake.

You are invited to enter a drawing to win one of two prizes: a complimentary wed-ding or event to be held at the Troutdale House or a photography package compli-ments of Martini Photography.

MAY 2008

107 E HISTORIC COLUMBIA RIVER HWYTROUTDALE, OREGON 97060

PHONE: 503-669-7473 • FAX: 503-492-3613WWW.WESTCOLUMBIAGORGECHAMBER.COM

WEST COLUMBIA GORGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONTHLY NEWSCASCADE LOCKS • CORBETT • FAIRVIEW • SPRINGDALE • TROUTDALE • WOOD VILLAGE

Monthly Spotlight

Cindi Farah moved to Portland in 1979 after graduating from Madison High School and

completing one year of Community Col-lege in San Diego Cal-ifornia. She was born in Brantford, Ontario Canada, the Home-town of “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky. Cindi’s father was also a professional hockey player in the WHL for 18 years. One of those years he was a Portland Buckaroo. She is the oldest of five children and has three sisters and a brother. Cindi’s first job was at Pacific First Federal in 1980 as a teller at the Downtown Branch. She was trained in bookkeeping, the vault, and new accounts. After four years she was transferred to the Gateway Branch and worked there as an Account Specialist until 1984. Cindi was married in 1986 and began her family in 1988. Two years later she started her career with Costco as a Caller and has held several positions since then, including Loss Prevention, Mem-bership and her current position as Market-ing Representative. Cindi enjoys working with people and loves her job with Costco. The kind of products and services offered by Costco make Cindi’s job fun as well as rewarding. She gets a chance to use her creativity at work developing benefits that improve the company. Cindi, is active in the community and enjoys travel, pho-tography, scrapbooking, jewelry making, baking, yoga, working out, baseball and interior design. Family and friends are important to Cindi so you can often find her relaxing with them, and her little dog DKNY at the family beach house. This year Cindi has a lot to celebrate. Her son is graduating from Western Oregon University with a Business Degree, her parents are celebrat-ing their 50th wedding anniversary, she became a US Citizen and now has dual citizenship, and she has been at Costco for twenty years. Con-gratulations on a great year, Cindi!

Please call Cindi at 503-258-3741, if you have questions about “Exclusive Membership Offers” through her Marketing Department.

INTEGRITY

COMMUNITY

LEADERSHIP

COMMERCE

Calendar of EventsMay 2

12 Noon

5pm - 9pm

May 5th11am

May 6th 10:30 am

May 7th 7:30 am

May 8th11:30 am

May 12thNoon

May 13th10:30 am

May 14th7:30 am

May 15th Noon

5:30 pm

May 16th 11:45 am

May 19th 11 am

May 20th10:30 am

May 21st7:30 am

11:45 am

May 26th 11:00 am

May 27th10:30 am

May 28th7:30 am

May 30th11:45 am

Wings & WheelsGorge Winds Aviation

First Friday Art Walk

Special Events Committee Chamber Office

Membership MeetingChamber Office

Business AMTroutdale Vision Clinic226 E. Columbia River Hwy.

East Metro Economic AllianceFairview City Hall

SummerfestTroutdale General Store

Membership Committee Chamber Office

Business AMColumbia Gorge Premium Outlets450 NW 257th Way #400

Community Action Team Charburger

After HoursTapatio Restaurant2441 SW CherryPark Rd.

Wheels and WingsGorge Wind Aviation

Special EventsChamber Office

Membership Committee Chamber Office

Business AMClare Bridge1201 SW Cherry Park Rd

Board MeetingLegacy Mt. Hood

SummerfestTroutdale General Store

Membership Committee Chamber Office

Business AMRiegelmann’s301 E. Powell

Wheels and WingsGorge Wind Aviation

Troutdale HouseGrand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

Advanced Placement AdvantageRandy Trani, Corbett High School Principal

The end of the year is a busy time at every school. However, at Corbett High School

the month of May is a whirlwind. This year students will take more than 340 Advanced Placement Exams.

This is an astounding number when you con-sider that a school our size would be expected to take less than 10. A student who passes an Advanced Placement Exam can earn college credit at nearly every university, college, or community college in the nation.

Passing the exam is only the frosting on the cake. Research consistently demonstrates that students who take an Advanced Placement course, even if they do not pass the Advanced Placement Test, are much more successful in college than their peers who did not take an Advanced Placement Course.

N

New Members

Silk Espresso3030 NE Hogan Rd.Gresham, OR 97030503-666-4716

Celebrity Foods11818 SE Mill Plain Blvd. # 109Vancouver, WA 98683360-695-5156

Honke Heating & Air Conditioning 840 NE ClevelandGresham OR, 97030503-666-3725

Old Fashion Jazzy Barbeque4259 SE 182nd, Gresham, OR 97030503-491-8631

Keith F. Flint1046 SE 29th St.Troutdale, OR 97060503-804-1367

Maryhill Museum 35 Maryhill Museum Drive, Goldendale, WA 98620509-773-3734

Port of Cascade Locks P.O. Box 307 Cascade Locks, OR 97014541-374-8619

Jerry’s Custom Paint & Collision2515 NW 11 Mile Ave Gresham, OR 97030503-667-8280

Adult Learning Systems of Oregon345 E. Columbia River HighwayTroutdale, OR 97060503-489-6560

Renewals

Paul Thalhofer InsurancePO Box 177Troutdale, OR 97060503-665-3242

Director’s Message

The West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce representing the

communities of Fairview, Wood Village, Troutdale, Springdale, Corbett and Cascade Locks is holding a fundraising drawing. You could win one of these exciting prizes:

Olympic Gym Family 6 Month Membership 2 Adults & 2 Children Enjoy the Indoor Pool

(Value $519)

A Romantic One Night Stay For TwoIn the Sunset Room, Enjoy a Bottle of Champagne and Breakfast (Value $125)Offered by Brickhaven Bed & Breakfast

One Hour In An Airplane SimulatorTest Your Ability to Fly a Plane (Value $100)

Offered by Gorge Wind Aviation

Tickets Are $5. Proceeds to the WCGCC. Drawing May 15th @ 5:30 pm at the WCGCC After Hours held at Tapatio Restaurant in Troutdale. Please call the chamber office to participate, 503-669-7473. We look forward your participation in this chamber fundraiser. Diane McKeel, Executive Director

Thank You to the Contributors to the West West Columbia Gorge Chamber Newsletter

Diane McKeel . . . . . . . . . . . Executive DirectorBrad Fudge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board PresidentSteve Vanier . . . . . . . . . Economic Development

FinanceMary Greenslade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MarketingChris Sharpe . . . . . Special Events/MembershipRandy Trani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corbett SchoolsPolly Malby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NutritionPatricia Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior MomentsStacy Warden . . . . . . . . . . Recipe of the Month

The cities of Fairview, Wood Village, Troutdale, and Cascade Locks

Thanks to Our Spotlight and Pet Spotlight contributors that change monthly

Matt Leamy . . . . . . . Layout, Design & PrintingDonna Leamy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proof ReaderAnna Pinkerton . . . . . Advertising & Publishing

Do you have a timely article for the newsletter? We would like to hear from you.

West Columbia Gorge Chamber Newsletter is the official publication of the West Columbia Gorge

Chamber of Commerce

503-669-7473 Published twelve times each year.Correction requested to: P.O. Box 245 Troutdale, OR 97060

West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2007- 2008

Charisse LiatyBank of the West

Mary GreensladeCelebrate Me Home

John LeamyThe Perotti Group

Jeff AndersonKB Team Promotions

Max MaydewRetired

DJ SimcoeMcMenamins Edgefield

Roger VanderharrRetired Fairview Mayor

Lennea CordrayWorksource Oregon Employment Dept.

Chris SharpeAvis Rent a Car

Phyllis ThiemannBrickhaven Bed & Breakfast

Brad Fudge,Board PresidentAll-Stor Storage Condominiums LLC

Fran WalshLegacy Mount Hood Medical Center

Diane McKeel Executive DirectorWCGCC

Dawn BlyCelebrate Me Home

Chuck RhoadsReynolds School Dist.

Barbara KyleEast MetroAssociation of Realtors

Steve VanierMBank

West Columbia Gorge Chamber Staff

Diane McKeel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Director

Anna Pinkerton . . . . . . . . . . . Marketing & Membership Director

Jana Hammer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visitor Center Coordinator

(503) 669-7473 • Fax (503) 492-3613info@westcolumbiagorgechamber.com

For a complete listing of West ColumbiaGorge Chamber of Commerce Members

visit us on the web:www.westcolumbiagorgechamber.com

Join Jeff Anderson and KB Team Promotions as they Pay It Forward!

to help local charities!

Jeff purchased a 3-minute shopping spree through Oprah’s Big Give program and KATU. All of the groceries and household items collected in this 3-minute spree Jeff donated to My Sister’s House and Bethany House, both local charities.

The shopping spree was held at Lamb’s Garden Home Thriftway, 7410 SW Oleson Road in Portland on Friday, April 18, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. KATU also filmed the event to be aired on their news program & AM Northwest.

Jeff was able to fill four carts with meat & cheeses along with some other items for a grand total of $3,428.22 of goods which was distributed between the two charities.

How can you help? Go to www.oregonwebteam.com and click the “Big Give Link” to have your donation go directly to My Sister’s House and Bethany House.

Your donation, no matter how small, will go to support the charities below. Together, we can make much out of little. Help Jeff and KB Team Promotions to Pay It Forward!

Your donations will help these local charities:My Sister’s House is to be the stepping stone into a new life for women and children, by helping to lead them in the pathway of continual growth for a better future. My Sister’s House is a home for women and children in transition. We offer educational opportunities, future housing assistance, parenting classes, life-skill classes and spiritual guidance opportunities. We are interested in the whole person and want to assist any woman to better herself and her life situation by pre-paring her for a better future. Every family will leave our program life skill confident and job skill ready for a future free of state assistance. www.mysistershouse.net

Bethany House exists to provide a “shelter” home and services for sin-gle, expectant women and their future babies. We provide a loving home environment that offers hope, encouragement, and confidence to face the future. Preparation for a healthy birth and responsible motherhood includes well-baby care, parenting classes, life skills, counseling, adop-tion counseling, education and employment opportunities, and com-munication skills. Bethany House seeks not only to provide basic needs, but also to prepare women for productive futures. Our program’s foundation is based on Christian principles and the love of God. We believe His truth, grace, and power can change lives for the better in this present age, and for eternity. Our “motto” is that Bethany House helps by “Touching Two Lives at a Time ... and Generations Beyond, with the love of God.” www.bethanyhousenet.org

Thank you to the following cooperating businessesto make this Pay It Forward campaign successful!

KB Team Promotions, Oregon Web Team,the Gresham Outlook & KATU

ComcastMeans BusinessThe Comcast Business Class Bundle:Digital Voice, High-Speed Internet and Cable TV.Starting at only $99 per month!Call your local Comcast professional and get your office connected today.

Services not available in all areas. All services subject to terms and conditions of the Comcast Business Class Service Order Agreement and General Terms and Conditions. Custom installation charges may apply and rates vary. Pricesshown do not include equipment charges, taxes, franchise fees, or other charges. Activation fee may apply. Comcast Business Class Cable Service: Certain services available separately or as a part of other levels of service. BasicService subscription required to receive other levels of service. Available for private viewing venues only and is not intended for public viewing areas such as bars and restaurants, or residential addresses. Not all programming availablein all areas. Comcast Business Class High Speed Service: Many factors affect speed. Actual speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Comcast Business Class Digital Voice: Unlimited package pricing applies only to direct-dialedcalls to locations in the U.S., certain U.S. territories, and Canada. No separate long-distance carrier connection available. Digital Voice service (including 911/ emergency services) may not function after an extended power outage. Certaincustomer premises equipment may not be compatible. Call for restrictions and complete details. ©'a9 2008 Comcast. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Microsoft product names andlogos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Thai Tran503-381-3730

As you’ve probably seen on local, regional and national news reports, communities across

the nation are facing significant challenges in funding the maintenance of their infrastructure. Unfortunately, Troutdale is no exception. This is particularly true of our local street system.

The condition of our local streets is rated using the Pavement Condition Index (PCI). The PCI is a widely utilized methodology for evaluating and tracking the serviceability of paved streets. The PCI is represented on a scale from 0 to 100, with 0 representing a completely failed street and 100 representing a brand new street or a street in like-new condition. This 100-point scale is broken down into the following categories: Ex-cellent (90-100), Good (70-90), Fair (50-70), Poor (25-50), Very Poor (1-25) and Failed (0). The City conducts an ongoing inspection cycle to evaluate and update the ratings for all of our streets.

Currently, the City maintains over 41 miles of local streets. The City’s goal is to repair and maintain all of our local streets to achieve a “Good” rating or better. The present condition of our streets is: Excellent 31%, Good 50%, Fair 16%, Poor 2%, and Very Poor 1%. Today, the City does not have any streets that are in the Failed category. The City’s streets are relatively young, for the most part, but they are aging at a much faster rate than revenue for maintenance is growing.

If no maintenance is performed on a street, it will deteriorate down the PCI scale as it ages, with the rate of deterioration increasing over time. If a street is allowed to slide far enough down the scale, repair and maintenance costs begin to increase dramatically. Conversely, by performing relatively less expensive main-tenance early in the life of the pavement, the quality level can be sustained and long term maintenance costs can be reduced.

The City is pursuing a preventive maintenance strategy to prolong the life and maintain the quality of our streets while controlling long term costs. Under this strategy, funds are applied early and at regular intervals in the life of the pave-ment to sustain our desired quality level (“Good” or better) and to prevent the need for much more costly repairs in the future. Currently, the City’s strategy for preventive maintenance employs the following cycle: crack-seal where needed every three years, slurry seal every seven years, overlay every 28 years. In addition to this, there are cur-rently a few streets in the “Poor” and “Very Poor” categories that, due to age and existing deteriora-tion, will require reconstruction.

A crack-seal is a treatment in which any cracks that have developed in a street are sealed with a tar-like substance. This prevents water from seeping underneath the pavement, which can lead to further structural problems and reduce the pavement’s life. The slurry seal goes a step further, coating the entire surface of the street in a mixture of liquid asphalt and very fine aggregate. This renews the surface of the street and counteracts the effects of weathering while bolstering the previous crack-seal applications. Finally, the overlay places a full layer of tradi-tional asphalt concrete over the existing surface, renewing the surface as well as the structural strength of the pavement.

Even with the efficiencies achieved through the preventive maintenance program, the fund-ing outlook is not favorable. Given our current revenue stream and the many other expenses associated with maintaining the City’s transpor-tation network, we presently project that we will have just under $130,000 annually to spend on pavement preservation in the City of Troutdale over the next ten years. Beyond ten years, avail-able funds will be less, though the maintenance

Street Maintenance Funding Outlook

burden will be greater. At this funding level, we cannot fully fund the preventive maintenance program and PCI’s will continually decrease over time. Preliminary analysis indicates that to fully fund streets maintenance and meet the City’s goal of 100% of streets rated “Good” or better, the City will need to generate approximately $450,000 in additional revenue annually.

Troutdale is not alone. Many jurisdictions are confronting similar problems. The state im-posed gas tax rate, the primary funding source for street maintenance in Oregon, has not been raised since the early 1990’s. At the same time, more streets are being added to the mainte-nance burden on a continuous basis and the unit cost of maintenance is increasing. Many jurisdictions are already taking action locally. Seventeen Oregon cities have enacted local mo-tor fuel taxes and at least 19 Oregon cities have instituted local street utility fees to generate the needed revenue. Some cities have enacted a combination of these two revenue streams. Several other cities in Oregon are currently contemplating similar measures.

This article has been a preview of the streets maintenance funding challenges facing the City as we look toward the future. City staff will be analyzing funding options in greater depth and will be working with community leaders and con-cerned citizens to evaluate potential solutions.

If you have any suggestions, questions orconcerns related to street funding issues,

contact the City of Troutdale’sChief Engineer, Travis Hultin,

at503.674.7265

or atthultin@ci.troutdale.or.us.

Action Motor Sports22455 NE Halsey, Fairview • 503-669-2000

Amish Wrokbench Furniture235 E Columbia River Hwy. Troutdale

Art, Ink, Letters319 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-465-0055

Bev Frank Antiques387 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-665-1640

Caswell Gallery201 W Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-492-2473

Celebrate Me Home319 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-618-9394

Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets450 NW 257th Way Suite400, Troutdale503-669-8060

Columbia River Gallery305 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-491-8407

Costco4849 NE 138th, Portland • 503-258-3741

Creative Edge97 W Historic Columbia River Hwy. Troutdale503-492-9937

The Design Center149 E Historic Columbia River, Troutdale503-491-1776

Dry Cleaning StationP.O. Box 3459, Gresham • 503-674-0130

Fairview Chevron1605 NE 223rd Ave., Fairview503-666-8970

Inspir Medispa113 W Historic Columbia River, Troutdale503-669-0217

KB Team PromotionsPO Box 609, Fairview • 503-669-7313

Leamy Printing & Design105 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-492-1243

Lowe’s1000 NE Wood Village Blvd., Wood Village503-667-1005

Premier Investments219 E Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale503-491-9303

Riegelmann’s301 E Powell, Gresham • 503-665-4158

Rustic With A Twist329 E Columbia River Hwy,Troutdale503-492-0595

The Studio Salon385 E. Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-667-8179

Troutdale Antique Mall359 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-674-6820

Troutdale General Store289 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-492-7912

Troutdale Mixer Shop3030 NE Hogan Rd., Suite A, Gresham503-665-5227

Troutdale Vision Clinic226 E Columbia River Highway, Troutdale503-492-3897

Wal Mart Stores Inc.23500 NE Sandy Blvd, Wood Village503-665-9200

Zan’s Flowers72 NW Ava Avenue, Gresham • 503-667-7856

Please use these Retail Business Members of the WCGCC when shopping for items they sell:

Columbia River Gallery305 E. Hist. Columbia River Hwy

Troutdale, Oregon 97060

(503) 491-8407Fax (503) 491-8808www.columbiarivergallery.com

Donna ErwinTues-Sat 10-5

Sun 11-4

Award Winning FramingFine Art Gifts

I’ve had several people tell me they enjoy starting off their business day with the ter-

rific West Columbia Gorge Chamber Members at a Business AM. It’s educational and fun to see the members showcase their individual businesses at these AM’s each week.

Patricia Smith of Good Samaritan Fairlawn dazzled the members with her technological expertise; Charisse Liaty of Bank of the West had two of the cutest baskets (including a Bank of the West Bear for each) for a drawing; Darren Simonis of Action Motor Sports; thrilled the members with a promise of test rides on any motorized ve-hicle; John Anderson, of the City of Troutdale, gave an overview on how the City is organized.

Our last AM for April will be held at Always Perfect Catering on April 30th. I hope you have your newsletter by then.

The Membership Committee has been diligent for the past several months. We

have had between ten and fifteen members participate. This month we elected a Member-ship Committee Chair, Jo Anne Mead the Manager of US Bank. Dianne Scott, Certified Nutritional Therapist is the Secretary and the committee consists of Cosmo Salibello, Opti-meyes, Polly Malby, Juice Plus, Michael Stewart, Stewart Marketing Group, Chris Card, Olym-pic Gym, Jerry Nordstrom, Life Skill & Stuff, Adrian Trumbo, Paychex, Steve Brown, Kelvin Brown & Associates, Neil Robbins, Willamette Real Estate Group, Ben Chumov, Dry Cleaning Station. Geoff Kenway, National Association for the Self Employed and Anna Pinkerton, WCGC. We have been working on improving membership services and have created a new list of services for the WCGC Board to approve. Further, we have planned a Membership Drive for the month of June. Watch for more details to follow.

Membership Committee Update

Our Committee is working on a special Business AM to be held June 18th at

Olympic Gym. The Speed Networking AM will bring two chambers together. It will include the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce and the East Portland Chamber of Commerce members as well as guests for a fun filled morn-ing of getting to know one another.

Those wishing to volunteer for this project should call Jana Hammer at 503-669-7473. This is a great way to become acquainted with businesses in our area.

Membership WestColumbia Gorge Chamber Special Events Committee

Opened in 2001, Fairview-Columbia Library serves residents in Fairview, Troutdale, Cor-bett and other east-county communities.

Fairview-Columbia offers books as well as audio and visual materials, periodicals and electronic resources in English and Spanish that can be accessed on site or from a home computer. Fairview-Columbia customers have access to Multnomah County Library’s system-wide catalog of two million books and other library materials.

The library features a special children’s area complete with a large window seat and child-sized furniture. Fairview-Columbia’s meeting room is available at no charge for community meetings and events on a first-come, first-served basis. It has a 20-person capacity.

Toddler StorytimeThursday, May 1, 2008 10:15-10:45 a.m.

Preschool StorytimeThursday, May 1, 2008 11:15-11:45 a.m.

Plush PalsSunday, May 4, 2008 2-4 p.m.Artist Shanon Scholian will show you how to create small sewn animals and embellish them with bells and ribbon.

Tiny TotsTuesday, May 6, 2008 12-12:45 p.m.

Just Duct-y: Roses to Last a LifetimeTuesday, May 6, 2008 3:30-5 p.m.Moms will love these roses that you make yourself out of duct tape. For ages 7 and up.

Toddler StorytimeThursday, May 8, 2008 10:15-10:45 a.m.

Squirm like a BookwormThursday, May 8, 2008 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.Performer Cinda Tilgner presents a bilingual early word rec-ognition performance for shapes, colors, numbers, nursery rhymes. She incorporates scarves, instruments, clap, tap, hop, crawl, and dance to increase physical activity, balance, and strength.

Research Your Family HistorySaturday, May 10, 2008 2-5 p.m.Janet Irwin, librarian and family history expert, will talk about genealogy and family history research. She will cover Multnomah County Library resources, including the specialized genealogy collection at the Central Library (the newspaper index, ship passenger lists, military records), the genealogy databases available through the library, (Heri-tageQuest and Ancestry.com.), and some of the Internet resources available to genealogists. There will be time for participants to use the databases and online resources, as well as to ask questions.

Teen CouncilMonday, May 12, 2008 4:30-5:45 p.m.

OrigamiSunday, May 18, 2008 2-3:30 p.m.

Homeschool Book GroupTuesday, May 20, 2008 1-2 p.m.

Homeschool Book Group for TeensTuesday, May 20, 2008 2-3 p.m.

Guitar HeroTuesday, May 20, 2008 4-6 p.m.

Pageturners Tuesday, May 27, 2008 6:30-7:45 p.m.Engage in stimulating conversation about books, exchange perspectives about characters and plot, and get to know your neighbors. Read “Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black” by Gregory Howard Williams. A stunning journey to the heart of the racial dilemma in this country. Everyone will be enriched by reading the unforgettable tale.

What’s Happening at theFairview-Columbia Library

We enjoyed the largest After Hours this year at Leah McMahon’s Silk Espresso & Pastries. She asked each member or guest to take a gift pack-age which included Silk Bucks and Chocolate Coffee Beans and give it to a non-member; certainly a fun way to pass a good thing forward.

Thank you to all that hosted a WCGCC AM or an After Hours during the month of April. We do have the “BEST” Chamber Members.

Anna Pinkerton WCGCC Marketing & Membership Director

N

Then you might want to make reservations at Multnomah Falls

Lodge. Enjoy your scenic drive up the Columbia River Gorge and you will find authentic northwestern cuisine, served in a rustic, romantic setting. The Lodge offers an impressive menu selection for all meals of the day, but they will be featuring some incred-ible selections for Mother’s Day. The Brunch menu will offer Eggs Benedict, Crab, Salmon, Homemade Desserts, Crepes and much more. Brunch will

be served from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. The price is $24.95. If you miss out on this holiday Brunch, Multnomah Falls Lodge has graciously shared their most requested Brunch recipe that you can try at home. Whether it is a family outing, a stop on a scenic drive, or a romantic evening, Multnomah Falls Lodge will make the occasion a memo-rable one. Call today to make your reservations. Telephone and Dining Reservations: 503 695-2376

Caramel French Toast1 cup butter 2 cups brown sugar4 teaspoons light corn syrup 1 loaf white bread10 eggs 2 cups milk2 teaspoons vanilla 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend butter, brown sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Pour mixture into an ungreased 13x9 baking dish.

Cut bread into pieces and place over the top of the caramel sauce. Mix eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour over bread. Bake 45 minutes to one hour, until eggs have set.

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day Brunch?

I am the owner of Columbia River Gallery in downtown Troutdale. I read this article in my trade magazine recently written by Wil-liam Parker, a picture framer. I thought it was an interesting article on the way Americans shop and how these trends continue to evolve. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Of course the same shopper will go to Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart and Costco and those stores serve their purpose well, but the desire remains for a more intimate, less hassled, service oriented specialty shopping experience in one’s own community. There’s simply no imitation for the real thing and I find it very personally rewarding to be a part of it!

Stop by Columbia River Gallery the next time you need the expertise of custom framing, or a gift for someone such as jewelry, a photo album or sculpture…. or something unique to hang on your wall…or you just need to replace a broken piece of glass! We can do that! We’re located at 305 E. Columbia River Hwy. in downtown Troutdale. www.columbiarivergal-lery.com (503) 491-8407 Ask for Donna!

Prior to freeway systems, most shopping was done locally along the main street of small

towns. Everything you needed for everyday life could be found practically within walking dis-tance of each other. After that came strip malls and “the mall,” where the stores were strategi-cally placed within an order that along the way to finding what you came there for, you’d also find all sorts of other things to buy you didn’t even know you needed! That was brought to an extreme with the mega mall, such as the Mall of America in Minneapolis, where the author points out that, if a birthing center and a funeral home were added, there’d be no reason to ever leave! Nowadays, the mall has become a social hangout for teenagers.

Newer shopping centers being built today have a sort of Disney resemblance to the old Main Street, USA, so it has almost come full circle. People are craving the quaint ambiance and specialty store shopping experience of yester-year. Today’s shopper is very much destination oriented. The internet provides easy access to find exactly the item they want and tells them exactly where to go to get it. Busy people pre-shop online. Then, when they actually go to buy, they prefer to do so without the traffic, mobs of people and endless searching. That’s where the specialty small retailer comes in! The great advantages to shopping at or op-erating a store on a real main street in a real downtown are many for customer and retailer alike. The ambiance is real. Customers and store owners get to know each other by their first names and become not just business ac-quaintances, but friends. Merchants don’t just punch a time clock, but pour their hearts and souls into serving their community. The traf-fic is usually less, the parking better, and you don’t have to fight your way through the crowd. Amongst merchants, there is a camaraderie that is valuable and unmatched. We share ideas and information. We encourage each other, help each other and empathize with each other over the riggers of what it takes to be everything to everybody on a daily basis while operating a small one or two person shop.

Senior MomentsGive Me a Break

by Patricia Smith

Are you providing care for an elderly family member or friend? Then you

are part of the approximately 50 mil-lion Americans who are providing care to the elderly. Even a few hours of care a week makes a difference and can help the elderly avoid moving into a more restric-tive or costly kind of care. Although most of this care is happily provided by family members, it can be very stressful. The stress can cause physical, emotional and financial problems and can result in the caregiver needing care themselves.

If you are a caregiver make sure you give yourself a break and get some respite care for your loved one. What is respite? Re-spite is short-term, temporary relief that allows the caregiver to take time for them-selves, care for their family, take a vaca-tion, a long nap or get a good night’s sleep. A caregiver should not feel guilty about needing and taking a break. Taking care of oneself makes for a better caregiver.

There are many options for finding re-spite care to support the caregiver. Begin by talking to relatives or friends. Many who would be happy to give a few hours of respite or check in on a homebound person when you are on vacation, or give you a break from errands or laundry chores. Even a few hours can help. For elders needing more care there are several options. Home care agencies can provide from a few hours to around the clock care. Most care communities including nursing homes, assisted living, residential care and retirement homes will provide respite care. There are also adult day care pro-grams that provide half day and whole day care that includes group social activities.

The cost of respite will vary greatly accord-ing to need. Some insurance plans pay for respite and Medicare will pay for respite as part of hospice. Some services may be provided on a sliding scale fee also. How-ever, it is money well spent to maintain the health of the caregiver and much less costly than long term care in a facility.

Patricia Smith is Marketing and Resource Development Director for Good Samari-tan Society Fairlawn Village in Gresham.

Shopping Localby William Parker

Shopping Local Commentaryby Donna Erwin

Troutdale First Friday 2008

May 2nd

June 6th

July 11th

August 1st

September 5th

October 3rd

November 7th

December 5th

May proves to be yet another busy month in Cascade Locks.

May 3rd begins with a clean up in conjunc-tion with SOLV. Debora Lorang of Lorang Fine Arts and Gorgeous Gifts is once again co-ordinating this effort and will be ready to help volunteers by 9am. The cleanup will be from 10am-2pm. All participation would be greatly appreciated. Last year families, students and their friends showed up and collected a record amount of litter and garbage.

This event takes place in the Spring and Fall which gets the City ready for the thousands of visitors we enjoy throughout the summer sea-son. The Fall cleanup helps get the City back in shape for the winter months.

May 17-18th the PSU Gorge Invite Col-legiate Regatta will take place in the Marine Park. This will be in conjunction with the NW Intercollegiate Sailing Association with is the governing body of intercollegiate sailing in the Northwest. There are 10 schools which par-ticipate, including schools from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.

More information on this event as well as up-coming sailing events can be found by visiting the newly updated website for the Columbia River Racing Association at www.cgra.org .

The Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge is back for the summer season. Weekend brunch and dinner cruises are always a great way to relax as well as show out of town visitors the beauty of the Gorge from the river. Watch the Na-

What’s Up in Cascade Locks for Mayby Phyllis Thiemann

tive Americans fishing from their platforms and paddle under the Historic Bridge of the Gods. For more information including complete schedule and fare information, visit www.Portlandspirit.com

Check out the Lorang Fine Art Gallery and Gorgeous Gifts or stop in the Pacific Crest Pub for some of their salmon chowder. Drive through and get a world famous and mem-ory inspiring ice cream cone, or check out Johnny’s Deli for some great hand scooped ice cream in a freshly made waffle cone. Or just sit next to the river and take in the scenery in the Locks Café while enjoying a glass of beer or some local wine.

Just remember, you are always welcome in the “Heart of the Gorge.”

I is for Iron Rich foods and the Immune systemby Polly Malby

Iron rich foods improve the body’s ability to transport oxygen to every cell so that it can

function well. When deprived of oxygen, we feel tired and sluggish like a wilted flower. In addi-tion, it is harder for the immune system to do its job of fighting off bacterial and viral diseases.

Foods rich in iron include meats, legumes, and vegetables. Absorption of iron is doubled when we combine green leafy vegetables with a bit of meat at meal time. Cooking in a cast iron pot can increase available iron by 2-3% according to Dr Lukaski at the USDA Human Research Center in North Dakota.

Finally, to improve iron absorption and im-mune function, look for foods that have the richest colors - deep green, leafy vegetables, purple and blue berries, and orange and yel-low fruits. For vibrant health, aim to eat at least one serving of each color per day!

For more information and speaker availabil-ity, contact Polly Malby, CNM, MSN atwww.passion4prevention.com, 503-695-5784, 1-800-832-3946.

The Lowe’s Story

Founded in 1946, Lowe’s has grown from a small hardware store to the 2nd largest home

improvement retailer worldwide, the 8th largest retailer in the U.S. and 14th largest in the world.

The Lowe’s story began in North Carolina when H. Carl Buchan, part owner of the North Wilkesboro Hardware Company, envisioned creating a chain of hardware stores. At the time, Lowe’s was a typical, small-town hardware store selling everything from overalls to wash tubs, work boots and even horse collars.

Carl Buchan later purchased the company from his brother-in-law and partner, James Lowe. Buchan anticipated the post-World War II building boom and concentrated on selling only hardware, appliances and hard-to-find building materials. By eliminating wholesalers and dealing directly with manufacturers, Lowe’s established a lasting reputation for low prices. Sales grew over time, and stores opened in neighboring towns throughout western North Carolina.

The company went public in 1961, and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1979 (NYSE: LOW). During this time, U.S. housing starts soared and professional buildersbecame Lowe’s loyal customers, comprising most of Lowe’s business. In 1982,Lowe’s had its first billion-dollar sales year, earning a record profit of $25 million. Lowe’s stores then reported serving a new type of customer: Do-

It-Yourself homeowners seeking to improve the value of their properties.

Anticipating DIY needs while still accommodat-ing contractors, Lowe’s began to enlarge itsstores and expanded its merchandise offerings. The modern Lowe’s began in 1994, when its new store expansion consisted of only stores greater than 85,000 square feet of selling space. Expan-sion continues as Lowe’s opens a new store on average every three days with 117,000-square-foot (117K) stores in metro markets and newer 94,000-square-foot (94K) stores in small to mid-sized markets. Lowe’s opened its first stores in Canada in December 2007 and plans to open its first stores in Mexico in 2009. The Lowe’s in Wood Village opened in 2001.

Lowe’s stores stock 40,000 products and have hundreds of thousands more available by special order -- offering everything customers need to build, maintain, beautify and enjoy their homes.

Although times have changed since Lowe’s first opened its doors in 1946, Lowe’s values have not -- the company remains committed to offering quality home improvement products at the lowest prices, while delivering superior customer service.

For more information, visit the local Lowe’s in Wood Village at 1000 NE Wood Village Boule-vard or our website at Lowe’s.com

Pet Spotlight

Lu Lu the Cocker Spaniel came into Shereen Spector and her husband

Jim Gurtisen’s lives in a bit of a around about way. Shereen’s last pet was an adult Cocker Spaniel from the Cocker Span-iel Rescue Group. They lost her after an illness and Shereen told her husband she would like to find a puppy. Jim, the Optometrist at Troutdale Vision Clinic, sometimes works outside the Clinic. On one of these occasions he met a Nurse at a senior care facility who is connected with a Cocker Spaniel Rescue Group. In turn the Nurse heard about a mother, a father and six puppies that had been abandoned due do the death of their owner. This dog family was residing through the Hu-mane Society at a Dog Foster Home. To Shrereen’s delight she was able to adopt one of these adorable puppies; a little gal they named Lu Lu Belle after a friend of Shrereen’s. Soon they started calling her Lu Lu. Lu Lu is not only cute she is also very smart. She poses for photos, can be a real ham, and has a great showy smile. Yes, she does smile! She is also a great hunter. Shereen and Jim were raising pheasants and on a couple of different oc-casions one escaped. Lu Lu was on the case both times and returned the birds without a scratch. Lu Lu has also been known to pull moles right out of the ground. This takes a keen eye, fast legs and strong jaws. Moles are not just waiting for a dog to happen by, they are down their hole in a split second. Shereen and Jim enjoy going fishing and so does Lu Lu. Her favorite place on the boat is the bow. She is right at home with the wind and spray in her face. She likes to dig as most dogs do, but along the shoreline Shereen’s sure she is digging for those elusive clams. Lu Lu can also do tricks; upon request she will sit, lie down, dance, walk on two legs, catch, and talk. These feats only happen when there is food or a treat in the offering. Remember we said she is a smart dog. Lu Lu goes to work with Shrereen so you can meet her at the Troutdale Vision Clinic in downtown Troutdale. You can also meet and ask questions of Shereen and Jim, the owners of the Clinic. Call them at 503-258-3741 for more information on eye care, glasses, contacts and eyeware accessories.

M E D I C A L • D E N T A L • P H A R M A C YI N D I V I D U A L • G R O U P • M E D I C A R E

A h e a l t h i n s u r a n c ec o m p a n y t h a t m a k e s

y o u f e e l b e t t e r.

503-243-3948 I 1-800-578-1402www.odscompanies.com

WEST COLUMBIA GORGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PO BOX 245TROUTDALE, OREGON 97060

PHONE: 503-669-7473WWW.WESTCOLUMBIAGORGECHAMBER.COM

Perhaps you have noticed an increase in the presence of outlet shopping centers across

the nation. Shopping continues to grow as the primary activity of travelers in the United States. Outlet shopping in particular has become a key component of travel itineraries for the value-conscious visitor market. Today more than ever, consumers seek value and are enticed by finding designer labels and name brands for less, making shopping at outlet centers more popular than ever.

Outlet centers work in many ways to attract visitors and this benefits other area businesses as well. Savvy shoppers from around the world know that when an outlet center is part of the Chelsea family of Premium Outlet Centers across the nation, they will be sure to find a unique and distinctive shopping experience. Each center is a shopping attraction and desti-nation in its own right, offering factory-direct savings of 25% to 65% or more every day and a distinctive, upscale mix of leading designer and quality name brand outlet stores.

Situated in easily accessible locations near accom-modations and other attractions, Chelsea centers offer an attractive setting that makes shopping an exciting and pleasant experience for the whole family. Visitor services and amenities provide a wide range of services, including Customer Service Centers, international sizing charts and multi-lingual services, dining options, ATM’s, gift certificates and gift cards, stroller rentals and wheelchairs. Some centers also offer foreign cur-rency exchange and locker rentals. Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets in Trout-dale is part of Chelsea Premium Outlets, one of the world’s leading outlet shopping destina-tions located throughout the United States. Consumers enjoy the value of high-quality merchandise at discounted prices at a wide variety of designer and name brand merchants offering clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, housewares, gifts, travel items, toys, gourmet shops, specialty items and many more.

COLUMBIA GORGE PREMIUM OUTLETSby: Marti Ortolani

Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets features 45 name brand stores offering discounts of 25% to 65% every day. Located 15 minutes east of Port-land off I-84 at Exit 17, the center is conve-niently situated at the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge. The center offers a wide range of amenities, including: ATM, public restrooms, stroller rentals, gift cards, complimentary wheelchair, kiddie rides, massage chair, vending machines, and an information center. Please visit our center website for more information.

Chamber members are invited to visit the cen-ter’s management office (Suite 400) and receive a complimentary VIP Coupon Book offering exclusive discounts from participating stores.

Contact: Columbia Gorge Premium OutletsMarti Ortolani • Marketing Assistant

450 NW 257th Way • Troutdale, OR 97060Phone: (503) 669-8060Fax: (503) 666-3062

www.premiumoutlets.com/columbiagorge